THE SIDELINES : Rockets’ Star May Miss Opener

Rockets center Akeem Olajuwon may not be ready to play at full speed in the regular season opener Nov. 3, Rockets Coach Don Chaney says.

Olajuwon has been restricted to conditioning drills because of a blood clot in his leg. He cannot participate in contact drills until he stops taking blood thinners.

“If he comes back two days before the season opener, I’m going to treat him as an injured player who’s coming back,” Chaney said Monday. “If they take him off the medication the night before we play, I might not start him.

“It would be unfair to put him out there 30 or 40 minutes in the first few games if he hasn’t been able to practice fully for a week before the season starts.”

Olajuwon was hospitalized for a week in July when the blood clot was discovered in his left calf. Doctors say his recovery is progressing on schedule. “We plan to take him off medication next week,” Dr. David Rothschild said.